- Best time
- November to April
- Ideal trip
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Fly or arrive at
- Velana International, Malé (MLE)
A Maldives holiday is mostly one decision: which resort. Each resort sits on its own island, so the hotel you choose decides your beach, your food, your reef and how you get there. Get that choice right and the rest is easy.
Choosing the right resort
Start with the transfer. Resorts close to Malé are reached by speedboat in under an hour, which suits short trips and late flights. Farther atolls need a seaplane, which is spectacular but only flies in daylight, or a domestic flight plus a boat. A late-evening arrival can mean a night near the airport before the seaplane.
Next, the meal plan, because food on a private island is expensive. Bed and breakfast, half board, full board and all-inclusive can change the final bill a lot. For three or four nights, half board or all-inclusive is usually the better value.
If snorkelling matters, ask for a resort with a good house reef, so you can swim off the beach instead of waiting for boat trips.
Water villa or beach villa?
Water villas stand over the lagoon with steps into the sea, which is the picture most honeymooners want. Beach villas give you sand at the door and more privacy from boats, and they are often better for families with small children. Many couples do two nights in each.
Visa and entry
The Maldives gives visitors a free visa on arrival for up to 30 days with a valid passport, a return ticket and a confirmed hotel booking. Visitors also fill in an online traveller declaration shortly before arrival. We send the steps with your booking.
Budget options on local islands
Guesthouses on local islands such as Maafushi or Thulusdhoo cost far less than resorts and are reached by public or speedboat ferries. They are a good choice for divers and budget travellers, but local islands follow local customs: alcohol is not served and beachwear is limited to designated bikini beaches.
Best time to visit the Maldives
November to April is the dry, sunny season and the most expensive, especially around Christmas and New Year. May to October brings the south-west monsoon: more rain and wind, but also lower rates and good marine life, including manta rays in Baa Atoll in the second half of the year.
Sample itinerary (4 days / 3 nights)
Day 1
Arrive and transfer
Speedboat or seaplane to the resort, sunset on the jetty.
Day 2
Reef day
House-reef snorkelling, spa or a sunset dolphin cruise.
Day 3
Island picnic
Sandbank picnic or snorkel trip; candlelit dinner.
Day 4
Departure
Morning swim, transfer back to Malé.
Good to know before you go
- Book flights that land by early afternoon if your resort uses a seaplane.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard save you from the strong sun on the water.
- Check if the resort price includes the transfer and the green tax.
Maldives trip questions
Is the Maldives only for honeymooners?
No. Many resorts have kids' clubs and family villas, and friends' groups enjoy diving and island hopping.
How many nights are ideal?
Three or four nights at one resort is the usual trip. Stay longer if you are splitting between a water villa and a beach villa.
Do Indians need a visa for the Maldives?
Visitors get a free visa on arrival with a passport, a return ticket and a confirmed hotel booking.
